Spoilers: Resurrection Ship (Part Two)
A/N: Okay this bites but the muse made me write it!
Corollary
By Socket
Lee storms aboard Colonial One and marches into her room. He starts at seeing Roslin lying in bed. Her skin is unusually pale and she looks like she's in pain. He slows, momentarily, but his righteousness gets the better of him and he stands over her.
"I know what you've done," he declares.
Laura gazes at him, mystified at his unexpected entrance and his brusque attitude towards her.
"Done, Captain?" She struggles to sit up. "And what is it I've done?"
"Cain," he says, crossing his arms over his chest.
A strange look fills Laura's eyes. "That," she acknowledged.
Apollo's anger intensifies. "Yes that!" he all but shouts.
Roslin feels her defences rise. "Why are you here Lee?"
He glares at her. "How could you?" he hisses and moves closer to her. "I believed in you, I trusted you…"
Laura's eyes narrow. "And how have I betrayed you exactly?" she inquires.
He sits on the edge of her bed. "You promised me a future filled with integrity, of morality… and then, when my back is turned, you instigate murder!"
"And what would you call the crimes she has committed against humanity - and will continue to commit? That woman has no conscience; she must be eliminated if the fleet is to survive."
Lee shakes his head. "No."
Laura raises an eyebrow. "Then what would you suggest? We throw her in the Brigg for eternity? She has followers; she would rise up again and destroy this fleet. What good is democracy and high principles then? With no one to live for them or to enforce them?"
Apollo glowers. "I can't believe you're saying these things – you of all people."
Laura shifts forward. "The first rule of being a leader is that you have to do what is best in the long-run. Cain is not fit to command. If left to her own devices, she would eliminate the Commander and systematically destroy the fleet. There is no choice in this matter, Lee - it's her or us. It's that simple."
"How can you be so cold?" he asks incredulously.
"I'm being practical," she corrects. "Besides, wasn't it you who told me that when it came to them or us - there was no choice?"
"I meant it was us or the cylons, not us or the Pegasus."
Roslin smiles sadly. "And when I die and Cain assassinates your father, then where would you be? The cylons will have won because that woman hasn't a compassionate bone in her body. She's no leader of humanity, she's ruthless and we need to be ruthless when dealing with her – she doesn't understand anything else."
"That doesn't justify killing her!" Lee exclaims.
"She will do what she has to in order to win. She will not stop; do you understand the long-term implications of that, Captain Apollo?"
And it's the first time that Laura has ever spoken to him as if he's a child and he hates it.
"I thought you were above that," he whispers.
"Above protecting my people?" she asks.
"Above underhanded dealings," he retorts.
Laura reaches out to touch his arm, he draws back from her.
Her eyes darken. "Have I hurt you that much?" she asks.
"You were the only pure thing in my life," he says softly. "And now that's gone."
"I'm still me," she whispers.
He shakes his head, his voice full of disappointment. "No, you've changed… you're jaded, just like the others."
He stands.
Laura's eyes follow him. "I did what I had to, Captain. You're young, maybe one day you'll understand."
His eyes narrow. "I hope I never have to," he stated, then turned on his heel and strode out of her room.
Filled with sadness, Laura watches him go. "I hope you never have to either," she murmurs and sinks further into her cushions. Pain shrouds her. The end is near; she can feel it. She only wishes that she and Captain Apollo could have parted as friends.
